Improvement in link-guides for car-couplings



G. STILL'SN.

Link-Gudes for Gar-Couplings.

N0, 134,173, Patented Dec.24,1872

UNITED `STATES- v GARRY STIIJLSON, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LINK-GUIDES FOR CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,173, dated l'December24, 1872.

To all whom it may conce-ra:

Be it known that I, GARRY STILLsON, of Binghamton, in the county ofBroome and State of N ew York, have invented certain Improvements inApparatus for Coupling Gars, of which the following is a speeication:

My invention relates to an improvement in link-holders for couplingrailroad cars, by which much of the danger of being crushed between thecars, or of falling on the track beneath the wheels, is avoided 5 andits object is to enable the operator to rest the coupling implement uponor within the draw-head without coming in contact or depending upon anyother portion of the car, the advantage of which will be readilyperceived from the following description and drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of my coupling device. Fig. 2 is a planview of the same, on a reduced scale, as applied to the drawhead andlink of a car.

A represents the main rod, which should be about the length of awalking-cane, and of a size and weight most convenient and best capableof bearing the required strain. B is the handle, which, for convenience,may vary in form. G is a bar, projecting at a right angle,

or nearly so, from the main rod, andshould be at least five or sixinches long, in order to reach into the month of the draw-head asufficient distance, and rest firmly upon a level, or nearly level,surface. D represents the ordinary draw-head, having a flaring orbell-mouth for receiving the link as .the cars approach each other. Erepresents the link in common use. F F are projections, which serve toprevent the link from sliding upon the rod when the handle is raised orlowered to avoid the buffers, or for any other cause. G arecross-sections of the bolts or pins, which are operated in the ordinarymanner to secure the link in the draw-head, the operator generallyinserting the point slightly into the hole, and inclining the bolt so asto retain it just ready to drop into its place by the concussion of thecars. If so desired, the projections F may be dispensed with; but Iprefer to use them. y

It is found, in practice, that the bar C and the projections may beemployed for a variety of purposes-for instance, to hook upon a car Theoperation of -my invention is as follows:

The operator, wishing' to couple a car to another or to a train, liftsthe pin in the drawhead of the stationary car and adjusts it for falling into place. ing car, which usually carries the link, placing his freehand upon the side of the car to steady himself, and walks along,entirely out of danger, outside of the track andthe wheels; andmeanwhile he presses the link-holder with the other hand up under thelink, at the same time introducing the bar C between the sides of thelink and into the flaring mouth of the draw-head until it reaches nearlyor quite to the pin and the rod A almost touches the rim of thedraw-head; he then firmly turns upon the handle B, lifting the link tothe proper level and entering it into the otherdraw-head. At thismoment, having accomplished the desired object, he quickly drops thelink-holder, and withdraws it from the draw-head by giving it a suddendownward turn at the precise moment when the operator woild be inthe actof withdrawing his hand from the link in .the ordinary mode of coupling.

My car-coupler may be made of iron, steel, or bra-ss, or any othersuitable material, but preferably of iron or steel.

I claim as my invention@ 1. The device for coupling cars, consisting ofthe rod A having the handle B and projectin g bar O for entering thedraw-head, substantially as described.

2. The rod A having the projecting bar C and lugs F, substantially asand for the purpose described.

. GARRY 'STILLSON.

i Witnesses:

HENRY REYNOLDS, E. W. BRIGHAM.

He then runs to the mov-v

